Politics set aside while Obama visits Jersey Shore

Christie ignoring fallout during follow-up appearance by president

May 28, 2013

President Barack Obama is greeted by Gov. Chris Christie upon his arrival at Atlantic City International Airport Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2012, in Atlantic City, NJ. Obama traveled to the region to take an aerial tour of the Atlantic Coast in New Jersey in areas damaged by superstorm Sandy. / (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Written by

Obama’s return to the shore

Stay with APP.com today for comprehensive live coverage of President Barack Obama’s visit to the Jersey Shore. Follow our coverage on Twitter @AsburyParkPress. Pick up Wednesday’s Asbury Park Press for detailed analysis coverage and more of the president’s visit.

More

ADVERTISEMENT

President Barack Obama and Gov. Chris Christie will reunite in a tour of the coastline today, seven months after a similar meeting resulted in the shunning of Christie by conservatives across the nation.

The Democratic president and Republican governor will visit with families and business owners affected by superstorm Sandy and highlight the extensive rebuilding efforts to date, according to the White House. Obama is scheduled to give a speech at the Asbury Park Convention Hall. Stay with APP.com today for comprehensive live coverage of Obama’s visit to the Jersey Shore.

Christie, seen as a potential GOP presidential candidate in 2016, said he isn’t worried about political fallout. Some members of his party said Christie hurt Republican Mitt Romney’s election chances last fall because he embraced Obama’s visit to New Jersey after the storm and praised the president’s response to the disaster.

Christie said Friday during the broadcast of NBC’s “Today” show from Seaside Heights that he’ll welcome Obama again, but he was pressed on the political ramifications by host Matt Lauer.

Lauer said, “I know that’s good for the state of New Jersey, but do you ever worry that another visit and more images of you two walking along the boardwalk will cook your personal political goose?”

Christie said, “No, because I think people in my state want more than anything else is for me to do my job, and the president wants to come back here and see the progress. I never worry about that stuff. I worry about doing my job. He’s the president of the United States. If he wants to come here and see the people of New Jersey ... I’m the governor, I’ll be here to welcome him.”

Christie is seeking a second four-year term as governor this November. Seth Grossman, an attorney from Atlantic County who is running to the right of Christie in the June 4 primary, isn’t expected to garner a significant amount of votes, but he said conservatives will again question Christie’s party loyalty when he meets with Obama.

(Page 2 of 2)

“I think the more Christie hangs out with Obama, the more people will see what they have in common. Both of them are good at perpetual campaigning, but neither have a clue on how to fix the economy,” said Grossman, who added that he believes Christie “did the entire country a disservice by demanding as much money as he could (for federal storm relief) without giving any thoughts whatsoever to the budget problems of the country.”

Christie’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment.

Non-issue for Buono

Christie is likely headed to a general election showdown with Democrat Barbara Buono. Christie’s campaign has been bolstered by crossover endorsements from Democratic mayors.

Obama isn’t expected to support Christie politically, but his visit with the governor could hurt Buono in a state where 1.7 million registered Democrats outnumber registered Republicans by 700,000.

Still, Buono, during a campaign event in Spotswood said she had no problem with one more day of added attention on Christie, who is enjoying a big lead over Buono in the polls.

“I would be very, very disappointed if the president didn’t come to New Jersey. I mean, he promised us that he would be back to see how we were recovering and rebuilding from Sandy. I think it’s wonderful that we’re able to celebrate that we’re on that path toward rebuilding. We need that escape, the New Jersey shore,” she said.

Buono, a state senator from Middlesex County, said she hoped to do her own event with Obama.